Musical instrument



March 26, 1940. H. N. WHITE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1939 FIG.2

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Patented Mar. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 MUSICAL INSTRULIENT corporation of Ohio Application February 25, 1939, Serial No.258,481

2 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to musical instruments, but hasreference more particularly to clarinets, especially the bell portionthereof, and to methods of making the same.

In clarinets made of wood and like materials, the mouth portion of thebell is usually of considerably greater wall thickness than the narroweror neck portion thereof, such a construction having been found toproduce improved tonal qualities.

In similar instruments made of metal, similar thickening of the wall ofthe mouth portion of the bell is objectionable for a munber of reasons,among which may be enumerated the following: (1) The bell mustnecessarily be made of a casting, and the weight of the instrument isincreased to an undesirable degree; (2) Where the bell is made ofsilver, the cost of the instrument is increased to a prohibitive point,and (3) The tonal qualities of the instrument are not appreciablyimproved.

The present invention, accordingly, has as its primary object theprovision of clarinet bells and the like, of light weight, inexpensiveconstruction, and the incorporation of which, in an instrument, producesa marked improvement in the tonal qualities of the instrument,particularly in the lower tones.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same- Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, illustrating the first stepin the manufacture of a clarinet bell, in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the second step in themanufacture of the bell;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the completed bell; and

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form ofconstruction.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the first step in themanufacture of the bell consists in providing a tubular member I,preferably of silver, having a flared mouth portion 2, which terminatesin an outwardly and upwardly extending curved flange 3, which, in actualpractice, is made by a spinning operation.

The second step in the manufacture of the bell comprises placing anannular member 4, of arcuate cross-section, over the member I, so thatit occupies the position shown in Fig. 2,

after which a marginal portion 5 of the flange 3 is spun over the lowermarginal edge of the memher 4 as clearly shown in Fig. 3, therebylocking the member 4 in position.

The curvature of the member 4 is such that I a hollow annular space 6 isprovided between the portion 2 of the member I and the member 4.

In order to permanently unite the members I and 4, silver solder or thelike is applied along the seams, as indicated at I and 8.

In that form of the bell shown in Fig. 4, the marginal portion of theflange 3' of the member I is first turned inwardly to provide a rebentflange 5', after which an annular member 4' is placed in position, asshown, the member 4 having a downwardly and vertically extending flange9, the diameter of which is substantially that of the internal diameterof the flange 5'. As in that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2and 3, the curvature of the member 4' is such 90 that a hollow annularspace 6' is provided between the portion 2' of the member I and themember 4'.

In order to permanently unite the members I and 4' silver solder or thelike is applied along I the seams, as indicated at l and 8'. It will beapparent from the foregoing description that the bell, being made ofsheet metal throughout, is of light weight, inexpensive construction,and that the hell can be manufactured quickly and I! easily by methodsnow used in the manufacture of wind instruments generally.

Due to the provision of the hollow spaces 6 and 6', the tonal qualities,particularly in the lower register, are considerably improved over thatof clarinets now obtainable.

In addition, the double wall construction at the mouth of the bellgreatly augments the strength of the bell.

Although the invention has been described par- 40 ticularly withreference to clarinets, it is applicable generally to wind instrumentshaving bell portions of a similar character.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shownand described, are to 45 be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, Without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bell for a musical instrument, said bell consisting of a flaredmember having an annular flange at the mouth thereof, and an annularmember of curved cross-section disposed adja- 55 cent said mouth portionand forming therewith and with said flange a hollow annular closedspace, a portion of said flange locking said annular member in position.

2. A bell for a musical instrument, said bell consisting of a flaredmember having an annular flange at the mouth thereof, a portion of saidflange extending inwardly toward said member,

and an annular member of curved cross-section disposed adjacent saidmouth portion and forming therewith a hollow annular closed space, saidannular member having a flange Whose external diameter is substantiallythat of the internal diameter of said inwardly extending portion of saidfirst-named flange.

HENDERSON N. WHITE.

